Watch your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. This can hurt or help your entry.

Every entry should be double spaced, with the author’s name and contact info on a separate cover page. The author’s name must not appear on any page of the entry other than the cover sheet. Once the entry is received, a coded number will be assigned and put on all of the pages. Judges will be given the coded entry without the cover sheet to preserve impartiality.

Winners will be announced in the Fall Newsletter. The Grand Prize winning entry will also be published in the Fall Newsletter.

There will be five prizes: Grand Prize is $50, First Prize is $25, Second and Third Place will each receive $10, and an honorable mention will receive $5.

RAM kicked off the year by testing prospects on January 10, 2019, and I would like to thank all the members that donated their Testing Vouchers so that the prospects could take the test for free. I strongly believe that it gives the prospects a very warm welcome.

So, how do you find your test voucher? A few months ago, you should have received an email from American Mensa (noreply@americanmensa.org) with a Subject line of: Invite a friend to qualify for free (I received the email on September 21, 2018). The email should have contained "Your Mensa Voucher Program Code", which a friend or family member can use to take the Mensa Admission Test or submit prior evidence for free. Since I didn't have anyone to give it to, I sent it to Deb.

Again, thank you to all the members that have already donated their unused testing vouchers so that prospects can test for free. And thank you to those that will.

Coming to the RAM Member Appreciation Day on December 15th? (And why wouldn't you be!) At 2pm, Brendan Dodds will give a short talk about board gaming, and introduce a new special interest group (SIG) for Mensans in the Richmond area.

We're all familiar with the classics like Monopoly and Risk, but in recent years board gaming has been undergoing a major revival. We'll take a look at some games you might not have heard of, and that will truly put your intelligence to the test.

Settle feudal France, a newly discovered land or maybe even Mars. Save the world from a deadly pandemic, quest for the holy grail or collect forbidden texts for your monastery library. Adventures await...

The new SIG will always be welcoming to beginners, and learning new games is part of the fun, so no experience is required.

Interested in joining? There'll be a sign-up sheet at MAD. Can't make the event? Add your name to the post below, to the comments on Facebook or use the contact us page on this website.

The holiday season is here, and we are fortunate to live close to a world-class event, the Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg. Tidewater Mensa is inviting Richmond Area Mensa to attend. Outdoor fires are lit, hospitality abounds, cannons are fired, entertainment surrounds you and fireworks top off the evening. Annnd, we are going to be a part of this special day.

Join us at Paul's Deli on Sunday December 2nd at 3 pm for a late lunch and fellowship. We will all gather there as a meeting point and venture forth into the restored area to take in all this celebration has to offer.

Particulars: Dress warmly. Parking is usually tight; carpooling is recommended. There is no charge for this event. RSVP not required, just show up, and leave when you feel you've had enough. Celebrations start at 5 pm, but there is a lot to do before then.

Announcing the first Richmond Area Mensa (RAM) Member Appreciation Day (MAD)! Here are the details:

Who: All current Richmond Area Mensa Members are invited. If you bring a guest, we ask that you also bring a dish or dessert.

What: We are providing lunch at 12:30 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm. Games and other entertainment (movies) will be held in between lunch and dinner. Of course, there will be lively conversation and snacks throughout. Members who RSVP in time and attend will receive a gift bag as a token of our appreciation for your membership to the group.

More is in the works. Additional details will be provided via email, here on the Richmond Area Mensa website and our private Facebook group as they become available.

Now is a great time to test for admission to Mensa! Interested prospects may either submit prior evidence for review, or attend a supervised testing session. The cost is normally $60, but there are several great promotions - let's get the word out!

October is NATIONAL TESTING MONTHCost for testing is only $30, and we have two sessions scheduled:

Oct. 27 - LaPrada Library

Oct. 29 - Holman Middle School Library

See the join us page for information on registering for a testing session.

Vouchers for free testingAll members have been given a voucher code to share with friends and family, which is available from October through March 31. With the voucher, a prospect is able to test for free! If you're a member who would like to donate your code to a prospect, please contact Deb Gribben to coordinate.

On September 8, join us for a tour of the state capitol. The tour of the state capitol is free. Please arrive by 11:45 AM. It is scheduled to start at 12 PM and last approximately one hour. Afterwards, we will go to lunch and finish the day with a visit of the VMFA starting about 3 PM. We extended the invite to Thomas Jefferson Mensa and Tidewater Mensa, so it will be a great time! This website has a link to directions and parking.

Richmond Area Mensa issued an alert June 24th after a number of individuals were reported to have broken out from from escape rooms in the Midlothian area.

It is understood that a Casino Heist was attempted, with a number of suspects escaping with only seconds to spare. Meanwhile another crew did something about returning paintings to a Museum - details are somewhat confused.

The diverse group are believed to still be at large as this goes to press, with no distinguishing commonalities aside from a reportedly high IQ. Based on witness descriptions, an artist was able to produce this surprisingly realistic sketch.

Some suspects reportedly re-grouped at Mi Hacienda, where they are reported to have celebrated their deeds with margaritas, dinner and good company. The restaurant CCTV captured this image of the gang.

Members of RAM with an interest in staying informed about this and similar events should make themselves known on the RAM Facebook group or get in touch with our Activities Coordinator, Victoria Mikula. Watch the events page for more.